Apparatus for closing and sealing filled bags



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w attorney Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING AND SEALING FILLED BAGS 'Robert N. Cundall, deceased, late of Lackawanna, N. Y., by Luta L. Cundall, administratrix, Lackawanna, N. Y., and Lincoln A.Cundall, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Bagpak, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application April 14, 1933. Serial No. 668,114. Divided and this application Septembet 9, 1937, Serial No. 163,047

8 Claims. (Cl. 216-21) Cundall, Serial No. 640,758, filed November 2,

1932, it is pointed out that to accomplish the filling, sewing and sealing of large size open,- mouth bags by hand requires excessive and tedious labor, and that prior to the invention set forth in the aforesaid copending application, there had been no satisfactory machine for accomplishing this purpose.

In the apparatus set forth in the aforesaid copending application, Serial No. 640,758, filed November 2, 1932, a series of bags to be filled are progressed through a plurality of stations by means of a conveying device operating intermittently. At various stations along the path of the bags, that is to say, at points where the bags are brought to rest by the conveyonthere are located devices for filling, closing, sewing and sealing the bags, as well as a device for severing the chain of stitches and tape by which the bags are joined as they apptoach the forward end of the apparatus.

Our present invention has for an object the provision of apparatus for filling, sewing and sealing bags,.more especially paper bags adapted 35 to contain large quantities of materials, which shall be simplified in various respects with respect to prior machines and which shall have numerous advantages in construction and operation, as will hereinafter be found to obtain.

40 Our invention has for further objects the provision of apparatus in which the progress of the bags may be made continuous and uniform rather than intermittent through at least a considerable portion of the apparatus, to allow for small dif- 45 ferences in the time required for the operator to prior to the filling and sewing thereof, thereby eliminating a separate bag-closing station, and the provision of means for automatic actuation 50 of the various filling, sewing, taping and severing devices in accordance with the progress of thebags.

Our invention has for further objects such additional improvements and advantages in construction'and detail and in operative results as may hereinafter be found to obtain.

Our invention contemplates the provision of filling means adapted to enter the mouth of a bag to deliver material into the bag and adapted to be withdrawn from the filled bag, in association with means for gripping the bag at the upper and outer (and it may be gusseted) corners of the bag during the filling operation, said grips ping or holding means being movable with respect to each other to permit expanding the mouth of the gripped bag to receive the filling means or spout and to permit drawing the mouth of the bag closed and taut after it has been filled.

When the bags are filled, they are caused to be progressed at a uniform rate past devices adapted to sew and seal the bag mouths and to sever the stitches and tape connecting the several bags, and these devices are caused to operate in accordance with the actual passage or positions of the bags passing along the conveyor.

Our invention further contemplates the provision of an intermittently and automatically operated device for transferring the filled bags into the grip of a continuous conveying device which carries the bags past the several devices for sewing the bag mouth, severing the stitches, apply ing adhesive tape over the sewed bag mouth and severing the tape.

Our invention also comprises the provision of means located in the path of the bags at a subsequent point for applying pressure to the sewed, taped and severed bags to insure adherence'of the tape thereto. I

Our invention further contemplates numerous improvements in the construction and operation I of the various units forming parts of the complete mechanism, which improvements will be described more fully hereinbelow.

Certain features of the invention herein disclosed and claimed are likewise disclosed but not claimed in the copendingapplication of Robert N. Cundall and Lincoln A. Cundall, Serial No. 680,538, filed July 15, 1933, Apparatus for closing bags, now Patent No. 2,097,448, dated November 2,

In'order that our invention may clearly be set forth and understood, we'now describe, with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, a preferred form and manner in which our invention may be embodied and operated. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side-elevational view of a machine for filling, sewing and sealing open-mouth bags, constructed in accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is an end-elevational view. of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

- Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing parts of the apparatus in a different position;

Fig. 5 is a view, partly inelevaticn and partly in vertical section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,-taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in the preceding figures, taken on the line'6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. l, viewed from the opposite side of the same;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in preceding figures, taken on the line 88 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 3 and 8, taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, taken on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10, taken on the line ll-ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, taken on the line |2|2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in. Figs. land 3, taken on the line l3-l3 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 13, taken on the line I l-I4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 13 and 14, taken on the line l5--l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line Iii-l6 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 17 and 18 are vertical sectional views of the apparatus shown in Fig. 16, taken on the lines l'|-I1 and l8-I8, respectively, of Fig. 16; i Fig. 19 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line Ill-I9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 19, taken on the line 20-20 of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a more or less diagrammatic view,

partly in elevation, of portions of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7 and illustrating electrical connections therefor; and

Figs. 22 and 23 are sectional views of a portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. ,16 and 18, taken on the lines 22-22 and 23-23, respectively, of Fig. 18.

Similar characters of reference designate the same or similar parts in each of the several views of the drawings.

The apparatus as a whole The bags to be filled, sewed and sealed are introduced one at a time into the apparatus at a station A, where the bags are filled with a predetermined amount of material, the mouth of the bag being filled at each operation being firmly held by apparatus associated with the filling station A, and to be described in detail hereinbelow.

The mouth of the filled bag is then firmly gripped by an intermittently operated conveyor B andthe bag is transferred to a continuously moving conveyor C to be sewed and sealed. As the bag passes along the conveyor 0, the mouth of the bag passes in sequence past a sewing machine D, a shear E, 'a tape-applying device F, a second shear E, a tape-squeezing device G and out of the machine, the progress of the bag or bags being from right to left through the machine as viewed in Fig. 1.

Thus, each bag is first filled, then sewed, the stitching connecting the sewed bag to the sewing machine or the following bag is then severed, adhesive tape is applied over the sewed bag mouth, the following tape is then severed, and finally pressure is applied to the bag closure to insure adherence of the tape to the bag mouth.

The arrangement and construction of the machine is such that the bags are filled and transferred to the continuous conveyor C as fast as they are filled or at the will of the operator, and the mechanism for sewing and taping the bag, as well as the shears for cutting the stitching and the tape, are caused to be actuated by the bags themselves as they pass along the conveyor C, the exact spacing of the bags along the conveyor C being immaterial.

Driving mechanism and conveyors A motor (not shown), through a belt and a pulley 3|, drives a high-speed shaft 32. Theshaft 32 drives a shaft 33 through aspeed re- A ducer 34 while'the shaft 33 drives a shaft 35 through a sprocket chain 36. The shaft 35 in turn drives a shaft 31 through a sprocket chain 38, which shaft 31 is connected by bevel gearing 39 to a shaft 40 extending lengthwise of the machine. The shaft 35 also drives a shaft 4| through a sprocket chain .42, which shaft 4| carries a pulley 43 over which passes a belt 44. The shaft 4| through a sprocket chain 45 drives an overhead shaft 46 which is connected by bevel gearing 4'! to a pair of vertical shafts 48 which shafts 48 may carry, as shown, a plurality of flanged pulleys 49 driving endless belts 50.

The'other end of the belt 44 passes over a pulley 52, and the upper span of the belt 44 is 'supported upon a plurality of rollers 53, only a few of which have been shown in the drawings. Similarly, the belts 50 travel over the pulleys 49 and a corresponding number of pulleys 54, and the inner spans of the belts 50' are supported laterally by rollers 55. The belts 50 move in unison with the belt 44 and provide lateral support for the filled bags travelling on the belt 44, but may be omitted if desired.

The apparatus in general is supported upon a frame comprising principally two main angles 56 and vertical supporting members 51, together with suitable lateral supports and other structural members, the details of which do-not require description.

The mouths of the bags passing along the conveyor C are gripped between a pair of belts or leather-faced chains 60 extending between pairs of sprocketsfil and 62 mounted on vertical shafts 63 and 64 that are supported upon supports 65 and 66, respectively, which supports are com veniently supported upon the main angles 56 of the supporting frame.

The chains 60 are driven from the shafts 48 through sprockets 68 mounted on the latter, chains 69 and sprockets I0 keyed to the shafts 63 which also carry the sprockets 6|.

The inner lengths of the chains 60 are pressed together by plates 12 mounted upon angle memthese plates 12 are shown in Fig. 4, they have been removedin, Figs. 1 and for the sake of clarity. Fig. 12, however,'shows the detailsof the plates 12 and their mountings.

The intermittent conveyor B comprises a pair of endless belts or leather-faced chains 80 extending between pairs of sprockets 8| and 82 mounted on swinging members 83. The sprockets 8| are keyed to vertical shafts 84 mounted somewhat forward of the shafts 84 on a support 85 and are connected together by means of gears 88. The forward ends of the swinging members 83 are pivotally mounted on the shafts 84.

The chains 80 are driven from one of the shafts 84 through a sprocket 81, a chain 88, a sprocket 89 freely mounted on one of the shafts 84 and a clutch 90'. The sprocket 89 drives the shafts 04 only when the clutch 90 is engaged, which occurs when a cam 9i on a shaft 92 driven through a one-revolution clutch 93 by the shaft acts through a cam rod 94, to move a lever 95 which is keyed to a shaft 96 carrying a bifurcated clutch lever 91.

The upper ends of the shafts 84 and 84, which carry the sprockets 81 and 89, are journaled in the ends of a supporting member 99 which also serves to carry the shaft 96.

The rear ends of the swinging members 83 are pivotally connected by links IOI to the opposite ends of a swinging link I02 keyed to a vertical shaft I03 journaled in a member I04 attached to one of the mainframe angles 56. Also keyed to the shaft I03 is a lever I05 pivotally connected by means of a rod I08 to a cam lever I01 pivotally mounted at the opposite end 'to one of a pair of vertical rods I08 and carrying a cam roller I09 adapted to bear against the face of a cam IIO. A spring H2 is provided to hold the cam roller I09 against the cam IIO.

The cam H0 is mounted on a vertical shaft II3 which is driven by the shaft 92 through bevel gears H4, a shaft II5, a gear II8, a gear II1 freely mounted on the shaft H3, and a onerevolution clutch H8. The number of teeth of the gear H6 is twice that of the gear'II1, and

.the arrangement is such that during one-half revolution of the shaft 92 the shaft H3 and cam IIO are stationary, while during the next half- -revolution of the shaft 92, the shaft H3 and cam IIO make one full revolution, swinging the chains 80 from their open position (as shown in .Fig. 4) into their closed position (as shown in on the surface of-the cam I I0. With the arrangement shown, a moderate pitch of the cam II9 solenoids I3 I.

effects a rapid swinging movement of the chains- 88 The cam 9| is so positioned and designed that the belts or chains rotate only when they are in their closed position as shown in Fig. 3. v

The chains 80 are provided with plates 12 and springs 15 similar to' those provided for the chains Bag filling mechanism It will be observed from inspection of Figs. 1, a and 4 that one of the angles 58 terminates at the standard 86 whereas the other angle 58 extends a considerable distance farther toward the rear,

and that the vertical rods I08 are mounted on the longer angle 56 at points lying to the rear of the standard 88.

The bag filling mechanism A is mounted upon the rods I08, the space below and on one side of the same being unobstructed except by the swinging angles 83 and the chains 80 mounted thereon.

Pivotally mounted on the rods I08 and supported by collars I20 keyed to the latter are a pair of sleeves I2I having extension arms I22 provided with cutawayportions I23. Pivoted to each of the arms I22 at I24 is a gripping lever I25,-the outer end surface ofwhich. is adapted to cooperate With a vertical surface I26 of the corresponding arm I22 lying directly above the intersection line of the chains 80 to grip an outer end of the mouth of a bag.

When, no bag is inserted in the cutaway portions or mouths I23 of the arms I22, the grip-,

ping levers I25 are supported by means of links I21, levers I28 pivoted to the arms I22 at points I29-and pivoted latch members I30 operated by As shown in Fig. 21, when the solenoids I3I are deenergized, the latch members I30 serve touphold the levers I28 and the gripping levers I25.

Extending across the mouths I23 along the lines of intersection of the gripping levers I25 and the surfaces I28 are a pair of feelers I35,v

pivotally mounted on the arms I22 at points I38 and carrying mercury switches I31. As shown in Fig. 21, when no bag is inserted in the gripping mechanism, the'feelers I35 occupy a substantially horizontal position across the mouths of the gripping arms I22 and the switches I31 are open. When, however, the end of the mouth of a bag is inserted in the mouth of one of the gripper arms I22; the free end of the correspond ing feeler I35 is raised, tilting and closing the corresponding switch I31.

As shown in Fig. 21, the two switches I31 and the two solenoids I 3I are all connected in series to a source I38 of electric current. Consequently.

when both of the outer ends of a bag mouth have been inserted in the mouths I23 of the arms I22, the solenoids I3I are energized, and the levers I25 fall and grip the ends of the bag mouth against the surfaces I28.

At thesame time, the electric current from the source I38energizes a solenoid I40 also located in series with the switches I31, withdrawing the upper end of a lever I4I out of the path of a dog I42 on the-clutch 93 and permitting the dog I42 and the shaft 92 to rotate with the shaft 40 for one revolution. At the end of one revolution of the shafts 92 and 40, the solenoid I40 will have been deenergized, as will be explained will engage the dog I42, opening the clutch 83 and stopping the shaft 92.

hereinbelow, and the upper end of the lever I4 I The lever MI is mounted upon a short shaft I45 journaled in bearings I46 mounted on a bracket I41 attached to two of the frame uprights 51, and has a stop I48 and a spring I49 which serves to bias it toward the position shown in full lines in Fig. 21. The solenoid I40 may conveniently be mounted, as shown, on a bracket I50 attached to the bracket I41.

Keyed to the shafts I24 are a pair of levers I55 having connecting pins I56 extending through slots I51 in a crossbar I58. The shaft 92 is provided With a cam device I60 having a cam rod I6I passing through the bar I58 and terminating in an adjustable head I62. Once in every revolution of the shaft 92 the head I62 descends, lowering the levers I55 and raising the levers I25 to release the bag. As the head I62 rises again, the levers I25 are retained in their uppermost position by means of the latches I30. g

The bag suspended from the arms I22 is filled from a suitable scale device (not shown) through a hopper I10 located between the arms I22. The hopper I10 is-connected by a member IN to sleeves I12 slidably mounted,upon the rods I08, the whole being supported by links I13 from levers I14 keyed to a shaft I15 journaled in bearings I16 mounted upon the rods I08. A lever I11 also keyed to the shaft I15 has a slot I18 for adjustably and pivotally connecting the lever I11 to a cam rod I19 which is vertically reciprocated by a cam I on the shaft 92. The hopper I10 is provided with a spout I8I having an elongated V-shaped open end provided with guides I82 and a narrow end member I83 for facilitating introduction of the spout into the mouth of a bag suspended from the arms I22.

At the start of the cycle of operations, that is to say, at the time the empty bag is inserted into the machine, the lower edge of the spout I8I lies a little below the upper edge of the normal position of the bag mouth, and penetrates into the mouth of the bag sufficiently to facilitate further entry at a later time.

In each revolution of the shaft 92, the cam I80 causes the spout I8I to descend further into the mouth of the bag a sufficient distance to bring the opening at the lower end of the spout I8I completely within the mouth of the bag, where it remains for a sufficient time to permit the desired amount of material to flow into the bag. Further rotation of the shaft 92 then causes the spout I8I to rise above the level of the top of the bag, clearing the bag and permitting the bag to be moved away laterally; In the last portion of the cycle of rotation of the shaft 92, the spout I8I is returned to its original position somewhat below its uppermost position in the cycle.

The scale device may be of any suitable type, and means may readily be provided for automatically tripping the scale device to discharge material through the hopper I10 as soon as the spout I8I has descended a sufiicient distance into the mouth of the bag.

It is desirable to have the bag mouth straight and taut at the time it is delivered to the chains 80 of the conveyor C, but provision must be made for opening the mouth of the bag sufliciently to permit insertion of the spout I8I.

For this purpose, I provide a cam I on the shaft 92, which acts through an arm I9I and a lever I92 to turn a shaft I93, the ends of which are supported in horizontally tapered slots I94 in lugs I95 on the arms I 22. The inner ends of the lugs I95 are provided with raised portions I96 and are normally opposed by similar raised portions I91 on the inner ends of collars I98 keyed to the shaft I93.

Asthe shaft 92 rotates, however, the cam I90 causes the collars I98 to turn into the position shown in Fig. 6, bringing the ends of the arms I22 together a suflicient distance to permit insertion of the spout I8I into the mouth of the bag suspended from the arms I22. After the bag has been filled and when the spout I8I rises clear of the bag, the cam I90 turns the collars I98 back into a position where the raised surfaces of the collars I98 oppose those of the lugs I95, thus forcing the arms I22 farther apart and tightening and closing the mouth of the bag suspended therefrom.

The outward position of one of the arms I22 is shown in broken lines in Fig. 6. It will be understood that the other arm I22 is similarly moved by the cam I90.

Operating sequence of bag-filling mechanism and intermittent feeding conveyor 1. Prior to the introduction of a bag into the machine, the chains 80 are stationary and in their open position, as shown in Fig. 4. The chains 60, of course, move continuously, but due to the fact that the clutch 90 is disengaged, the chains 80 do not move at this'time. The gripping levers I25 are raised, the switches I31 being now open and the solenoids I3I and the solenoid I40 being deenergized. The lever I M obstructs the dog I'42 of the clutch 93 and the shaft 92 is therefore stationary. The spout I8I is in its initial position, a little below its uppermost position in the cycle, as described above, and the arms I22 are in their farthest separated positions.

2. The operator introduces the preferably gusseted ends of the mouth of an empty bag into the mouths I23 of the arms I22, raising the feelers I35 and closing the switches I31, thus energizing the solenoids I3I and permitting the levers I25 to drop and grip the ends of the mouth of the bag. At the same time, the solenoid I40 is energized, drawing the lever I4I out of the path of the dog I42 and starting the shaft 92. In thus introducing the bag, the operator can without difficulty open the upper edge of the bag mouth enough to bring the tip of the spout I8I slightly into the mouth of the bag.

3. As the shaft 92 rotates, the cam I80 lowers the hopper I10 and the spout I8I descends until the open end of the same lies completely within the mouth of the bag. At the same time, the cam I90 causes the arms I22 to move inwardly, opening. the bag to accommodate the spout I8I. 4. The spout I8I being fully inserted in the mouth of the bag, the operator, or suitable automatic mechanism which may be provided for this purpose, releases the trip lever of the scale mechanism (not shown) and discharges a predetermined amount of material through the hopper I10 and the spout I8I into the bag.

5. When the bag is full, further rotation of the shaft 92, through thegcams I80 and I90, causes the spout I8I to rise clear of the bag and the arms I22 to move outward.

6. During thefirst one-half revolution of the shaft 92, the clutch II8 has been disengaged,

the cam IIO being stationary. When the shaft 92 reaches the end of its first one-half revolution, the cam IIO starts to turn, acting through the lever I01 to swing the chains 80 inwardly until they meet and grip the bag mouth, and retaining them in this position for a time.

7. The shaft 92 then acts through the cam I60 and the-rod I6l to raise the levers I25, re-' leasing the bag mouth which is now gripped between the chains 30., At the same time, the solenoids I3I are deenergized, permitting the latches I30 to retain the arms I25 in their upper positions, and the solenoid I40 is also deenergized, permittingthe lever I to return under the infiuenceof the spring 'I49 to the full line position of Fig. 21, where it awaits the dog I42 of the clutch 93. f

8. Further rotation of the shaft 92 acts through the cam BI and the arm 94 to engage the clutch 90, driving the chains 80 in synchronism with the chains 60 and moving the filled bag into thev conveyor C.-

9. When the entire mouth of the bag has entered the grip of the chains 60, the cam 9| disengages theclutch 90, stopping the chains 80, and at about the same time the cam IIO causes the chains 80 to return to their outward or separated position, as shown in Fig. 4, while the spout I6I, which has remained stationary in its uppermost position after being lifted to clear the filled bag, descends a shortdistance to its initial position.

10. As soon as the chains 80v return to the position of Fig. 4, the dog I42 engages the end of the lever MI and the shaft 32 stops, having completed one revolution. The ca'm II 0 has also completed one revolution, and will not start again until the shaft 92 has been restarted and has completed one-half revolution.

The bag has now-entered the conveyor C and approaches the sewing machine D.

Sewing machine and shear forstitching As the bag moves forward along the conveyor C, the mouth of the bagpis sewed,by a sewing head 200, preferably of the type set forth and claimed in the patent issued to Robert N. Cundall, No. 1,963,652, dated June 19, 1934, and pivotally mounted in the manner set forth in the aforesaid copending application of Robert N. Cundall, Serial No. 640,758, filed November 2, 1932.

While, in the latter application, the sewing head was mounted upon a carriage which was caused to traverse the mouth of a stationary bag, whereas in the present instance the sewing head 200 is pivotally mounted upon a stationarv hracket 20I and is traversed by the moving bag, the advantages of the pivotal mounting, which allows the throat portion 202 of the sewing head 200 to move with the bag as each stitch is made and to return to position for another stitch, are

equally desirable in the present instance.

The sewing head 200 is provided with a supporting arm 203, the upper and outer end of which is fastened to one end of a horizontal cantilever shaft 204' journaled in a sleeve 205 forming a part of the bracket 20I, which is attached to one of the angles 56. The shaft 204 is in axial alignment with the .drive shaft 206 of the sewing head 200, which is preferably located as close to a central axis of gravity of the sewing head 200 as possible.

Additional lateral support for the sewing head 200 is provided in a roller 201, mounted on bracket members 208 and 209 attached to the bracket 20I, and bearing laterally against the lower and outer edge of the arm 203. The arm 203 also carries an extension 2I.I having a set screw 2I2 adapted, to bear against the member 206 when the sewing head 200 is in a vertical position, and an extension 2 I3 having a set screw 2 adapted to engage the opposite side of the member 203 to limit the forward travel of the lower part of the sewing head 200. A spring 2I5 is provided for biasing the sewing head 200 toward a vertical position.

The drive shaft 206 of the sewing head 200 carries a spur gear 230 adapted to mesh witha gear 23! mounted on a shaft 232 journaled in a lug 233 forming a part of the support 20I and carrying a bevel gear 234 which meshes with an-- other bevel gear 235 mounted on a high speed shaft 236 and driven by the shaft 236 through a clutch 231. The shaft 236 is journaled near one end in a bearing 238 forming a part of the bracket 2M and at the other end in a bearing 239 shown in Fig. 2 and is driven from the motor shaft 32- by means of a sprocket chain 240.

Freely mounted on the end of the shaft 236 and held at a fixed distance fromthe bracket MI by a head 2 on the end of the shaft 236 is a bell-crank 242, carrying a beveled-pin 243, and the outer end of one arm of which is connected by a rod 244 to a solenoid 245. Also freely mounted upon the shaft 236 is a lever 246 carrying a beveled pin 241 adapted to engage the pin 243, and the free end of which is connected by a rod 243 to one of the angles 56. Normally, that is to say, when the solenoid 245 is not energized, the pins 243 and 241, the bell-crank 242 and the -lever 246 occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 11.

When the solenoid 245 is engaged, however, the resultant movement of thecrank 242 causes the pins 243 and 241 to engage, forcing the lever 246 toward the gear 235 and engaging the clutch 231, thus causing the gear 235 to rotate with the 35 shaft 236 and driving the sewing machine 200. The means by which the bags moving along the conveyor C are caused to energize the solenoid 245 will be described hereinbelow in connection with the shearing mechanism for the stitching.

As each bag leaves the sewing machine 200 it is followed by a chain of stitching connecting it to the sewing machine 200, and it may be, to the next following bag. The purpose of the shear E is tosever this chain of stitching a short distance back of the rear end of the bag mouth.

Pivotally mounted by means of a vertical pin 260 upon a bracket 26I attached to one of the angles 56 is a member 262 having a sleeve 263 in which is journaled a shaft 264 having a pulley l 265 at one end and a circular shear blade 266 at the other. {The shaft 264 is driven from a pulley 261 on the high-speed shaft 236 by means of a belt'268passing over the pulley 265 and'over an idler pulley 269 mountedon one end of a lever upon which the bracekt 26l is mounted. The 05 spring 216 biases the member toward'the position shown in full lines in Fig. 14, in which position it engages a stop 218 on the end of the bracket 26I. Attached to the member 262 is a more or less U-shaped bar 280 having an adjusting sleeve 261 '70 and carrying at its lower end a head 262 which is so positioned as to be engaged by the free end of a bent feeler rod 283, the rear end of which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 284. secured to one of the angles56 and the forward end of which lies across the path of the upper end of the bags passing along the conveyor C.

The construction is such that, as a bag approaches the sewing machine 200, it strikes the feeler rod 283, which moves out of the path of the bag, and, through engagement with the head 282 of the bar 280, also swings the member 262 against the pull of the spring 216 into the broken line position of Fig. 14, in which the shear blade 266 lies on one side of the path of the mouth of the bag emerging from the sewing machine 200.

As the sewed bag moves forward, the rear end of the bag at length passes the end of the feeler rod 283. The spring 216 then returns the member 262 to the full-line position of Fig. 14, the rotating shear blade 266 traversing and severing thechain of stitches a short distance behind the rear end of the bag mouth as it returns.

Pivotally mounted at 284 upon a bracket 285 secured to one of the angles 56 is a'lever 286. One end of the lever 286 carries a normally open mercury switch 281, while the other end carries an adjustable U-shaped bar 288 and is flexibly biased toward a stop 289 by means of a tension spring 290.

The vertical portion of the bar 280 carries a plate 29l adapted to engage the bar 288,-raising the upper end of the lever 286 and tilting and closing the mercury switch 281, when a bag strikes and moves the feeler arm 283.

The mercury switch 281 controls the energization of the solenoid 245, which in turn controls the engagement of the clutch 231. Thus, when a bag strikes the feeler arm 283, which it does as it approaches the sewing machine 200, the solenoid 245 is energized, and the sewing machine 200 operates, stitching the mouth of the bag. The sewing machine 208 continues to operate until the rear end of the bag passes thefree endof the feeler bar 283, when the switch 281 opens, the solenoid 245 is deenergized, and the clutch 231 is disengaged, this taking place just at the time the shear blade 266 severs the chain of stitches following the bag.

The mouth of the bag having been sewed and the chain of stitching severed, the bag moves forward to the tape-applying device F.

Tape-applying mechanism After the bag passes the shear E and progresses forward along the conveyor C, the mouth of the bag being in the grip of the chains 60, it encounters a tape-applying mechanism F which comprises principally a pair of driven rollers 300 and 300' located opposite each other at a point just below the top of the bag.

The roller 300 is keyed to a short vertical shaft- 30l journaled in a lug 302 having a side extension 303 rigidly fastened by means of suitable fastening devices 305 to the rear face 301 of a supporting bridge 308 and carrying a spur gear 3l0. The roller 300 is keyed to a vertical shaft 30l' journaled in a lug 382' having a side extension 303' provided with slots 304 and slidably held against the rear face 301 of the bridge 308 by means of fasteners 305 extending through the slots 304.

As will be observed from inspection the adjacentsurface 301 of the bridge support 308 is provided with a groove 3 adapted to receive and guide the extension 303'. At one outer end of the groove 3| I there is provided a lug 3l2 carrying an adjustable member 3l3. A compression spring 3 is located between the outer of Fig. 18,

end of the extension 303' and the member 3l3 and serves to force the lug 302' toward the lug 302. The rollers 300 and 300 are, however, prevented from actually meeting under the influence of the spring 3 by means of an adjustable stop comprising aset screw 3l5, the purpose of which will be made 'clear hereinbelow.

The shaft 30l carries a spur gear 310' which means with the gear 3I0 and also carries a sprocket 3l6 driven by a chain 311, as will be explained hereinbelow, at such speed that the sponds to the linear speedof the chains 60.

Tape is applied to the mouth of the bag approaching the rollers 300, 300 by means of a tapered guide 320, the forward end of which is located immediately behind the rollers 300, 300' and is relatively narrow and deep as shown in Fig. 22, whereas the rear end of the guide 320 is relatively shallow and wide. The guide 320 servesto receive flat tape from a roller 32l and to fold the sides of the tape 'over the sewed mouth of the bag just prior to the point at which the mouth of the bag traverses the rollers 300, 300.

'The forward end of the guide 320 is conveniently supported by means of a threaded supporting member 322 carrying an adjusting nut 323 and passing through a slot 324 in the rear of the bridge support 308. A compression spring 325 is also provided to assist in maintaining the guide 320 in position. The rear end of the guide 320 is suitably supported by means of a threaded member 326, a nut 321 and a spring 328 from a supporting arm 329 extending laterally from a collar 330 mounted on a vertical supporting rod 33! which carries a roll 332 of tape.

The tape web 333 passes from the roll 332 around a roller 334, and over aglue-applying roller 335, a portion of which is immersed in a bath 336 of glue or other adhesive material car ried in a trough 331 mounted upon a standard 338. The web 333 then passesunder the roller 32!, its under surface having been coated with adhesive material transferred to it from the bath 336 by the roller 335 and into the guide 320. As the web 333 passes through the guide 320 the outer sides of the web 333 are folded downwardly over the sewed mouth of the bag. As shown in Fig. 18, the guide 320 may be arranged, by suitable adjustment of the nuts 323 and 321, in a position inclined to the path of the bags passing therethrough. The end of the guide 320 to which the tape is introduced may be located above the level of the upper edges of the bag mouths while the opposite end may be positioned to press the tape down upon the upper edges of the bag nouths as they are progressed through the guide 3 0.

It will be observed that the outer surface of the rollers 300, 308' are knurled or otherwise roughened. The setting of the stop M5 .is such that the rollers 300 and 300 are separated even at their closest point of approach to each other by a space greaterthan the thickness of the folded tape, so that the rotating surfaces of the rollers 300 and 300', acting upon the tape alone in the absence of a bag, do not cause tape to be drawn from the roll 332. The distance between the rollers 300 and 300' is such, however,

rollers 334, 335 and 32! at the speed at which the .peripheral speed of the rollers 300, 300' correbag progresses, thus taping the mouth of the bag. The construction is such, as will be obvious from the above, that the rollers 333 and 333' exert a yielding but firm pressure upon the outer sides of the tape surrounding the mouth of the bag,

thus applying the tape to the bag mouth in an eflicient manner.

Where a so-called snake-stitch" or other reinforcing for the stitching of the bag mouthhas been provided by the sewing machine 233, as 'explained in the aforesaid patent to Robert N. Cundall, No. 1,963,652, or otherwise, the'rollers 333, 333' may, as shown, be provided as shown with grooves 343 so located asto accommodate the stitching and reinforcement of the same which has been applied to the mouth of the bag and to prevent the pressure of the rollers 333,

Tape-shearing mechanism As the rear end of the mouth of the bag leaves the rollers 333 and 333' and moves forward in the grip of the chains 53, it would continue to be followed indefinitely by tape from the roller 332 unless means were provided for severing this following tape. Such means comprises the, shear E which may be substantially identical with the shear E previously described, except that in this instance it performs no other function than to sever the tape at a point just behind the rear end of the moving bag.

The shear E comprises a member 353 pivotally' 40 mounted by means of a vertical pin 351 on a bracket 352 attached to one'of the main angles 55 and carries a rotating shear blade 353 and a pulley 354 which are driven by. means of a belt 355 from a pulley 381' on the shaft 238. An idler pulley 355 is provided which is mounted similarly to the idler pulley 253 of the shear E.

The member 353 is normally biased against a stop 351 on the bracket 352 by means of a spring 358 extending from the member 355 to a vertical 60 rod 353 secured to one of the angles 53. In this position, the shear blade 353 lies across the path of the mouth of the bag and the following tape. The blade 353 is, however, moved out of the path of an approaching bag by means of a feeler bar 353 similar to the feeler bar 283 of the shear E and mounted on a bracket 351 secured to one of the angles 55. When the mouth of a bag strikes the feeler bar 353 the latter moves out of the path of the bag, forcing the head 352 of a rod 353 attached to the member 353 to one side against the action of the spring 358 and into such position that the blade 353 is withdrawn from the path of the him.

When the rear end of the bag passes the free end of the feeler bar 353 the spring 358 again returns the member 353 to engagement with'the stop 351 and causes the rotating shear blade 353 l to traverse and sever the tape following the bag at a short distance behind the rear end of the mouth of the bag. As has been explained hereinabove, the mounting of the rollers 333, 333' is 7 the tape-applying mechanism F.

'serve to drive the chains 53.

Tapesqueezing mechanism In order to insure firm adhesion of the tape to the sewed mouth of the bag, the latter is next caused to traverse the tape-squeezing mechanism G. This mechanism comprises in part a pair of 5 grooved rollers 383 keyed to vertical shafts 38l mounted on bearings .382 forming part of a bracket 383 secured to one of the angles 56. The shafts 33l are provided with sprockets 384 driven by means of a chain 385 from a sprocket 385 10 located on one ofthe vertical shafts -53 which rollers 333 located opposite to the rollers 383. 90,

The bearings 332 and the sleeves 33l are provided with lugs 334 and 335, respectively, through each set of whichv passes a rod 335 carrying a compression spring 331 located between the lug ass and the head no of the rod- 396. 25

The springs 331 act upon the lugs 335, forcing the rollers 333 firmly against the rollers 383 which oppose them. As the points of engage-- ment of the rollers 383 and the rollers 333 are located directly above the line of travel of the so mouth of the bag, the taped portion of the bag mouth lying above the chains 53 traverses the rollers 383 and 333 and is subjected .to the considerable pressure exerted by' the springs 331 which insures that the tape is firmly applied to the mouth of the bag.

The rollers 333 are driven by means of gears 333 mounted on the shafts 332and adapted to mesh with gears 433 mounted ,on the shafts 38l. The teeth of the gears 333 and 433 are cut sufliciently deep to maintain these gears in mesh. with each other even when the shafts 332 are laterally displaced a short distanceby the pasgauge of a bag mouth between the rollers 383 and Upon the rear shaft 332 there is keyed a sprocket 432 which is in engagement with the s azocket chain 3" which drives the rollers 333,

The arrangement of the drive'is such that the peripheral speed of-the rollers 383 and 333 'corresponds exactly to the linear travel of the mouth of the baglying in the grip of the chains 33.

The bag having been filled and sewed, the I stitching and tape following the bag having been severed, and pressure having been applied to the mouth of the bag to insure adherence of the tape thereto, the bag is now ready to be delivered out ofthe machine and passes forward to that portion of the conveyor C lying forward of the belts 53, where it is removed by anoperator.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that, while my invention has been described and set forth hereinabove byway of exemplification, with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, my invention is not limited vto the specific details of such embodiment or exemplification; but may variously be embodied, within the scope of the claims hereinafter made.

We claim: 73

1 In a machine forclosing open-mouth bags, a conveyor adapted to advance a series of spaced bags and having means for gripping said bags a short distance below the upper edges of the same, a source of adhesive tape, a folder-adapted to guide tape drawn from'said source over the 7 upper edges of a bag held by said gripping means,

a pair of rollers located on either side of the upper edges of a bag leaving said folder, said rollers being biased toward each other, and an abutment for establishing a minimum distance between said rollers greater than the thickness of the folded tape alone and less than the thickness of the taped bag mouths.

2. In a machine for closing open-mouth bags and applying tape to the closures thereof, in combination, a pair of opposed endless belts adapted to grip the mouth of a bag at a point below the upper edges thereof, said belts being adapted to progress a series of spaced bags, a pair of rollers located above said belts adjacent the path of the upper edges of the mouths of bags gripped by said belts, said rollers being spaced apart by a distance substantially greater than two thicknesses oftape but not so great as to preventsaid rollers from exerting a compressive force upon the taped bag mouths passing therebetween, and a guide for feeding adhesive tape to the upper edges of said bags, said guide being located immediately in advance of said rollers.

. 3. Means to seal the mouth of a bag which has been closed in a single plane, comprising an adhesive applier adapted to apply adhesive to one side of a strip of flexible material, guides around which said strip passes from said adhesive applier to a point adjacent the upper edge of the closed ba mouth, a member through which the strip passes adapted to bend the strip of material into inverted V-shape with the adhesive side adjacent the bag month; said member being positioned with respect to the upper edge of the bag mouth to be vertically spaced therefrom at the end at which the tape enters and substantially in engagement therewith at the opposite end so that upon relative movement of the bag mouth through said member the tape will be brought into adhering engagement over the mouth of the bag with the sides of' the V in contact with the sides of the bag mouth, and rolls thereafter engaging the mouth of the bag to press the tape into firm adherence and draw the tape through the preceding means.

v ii. iii a nued bag closing machine wherein a bag is closed by a sewing machine applying a line of stitches to its open end, means to apply adhesive to a strip of flexible material, means to fold the gummed strip over the end of the bag to cover the stitches, means to press the strip against the sides of the bag comprising successive sets of opposed rolls, one roll of each set being resiliently urged toward the opposed roll of that set, and means to prevent the rolls of the first of said sets from contacting each other.

5. In a filled bag closing machine wherein a bag is closed by a sewing machine applying a line of stitches to its open end, means to fold a strip of adhesive tape over the closed end of a bag, a continuous source of supply of said tape,

means to press the tape onto the sides of the bag.

so that juxtaposed surfaces against said strip move in the same direction at substantially the same velocity and means for separating the rolls against the force resiliently holding them together.

7. 'In a bag closing machine, compressing movable members, means for driving said members so that adjacent surfaces move in the same direction at substantially the same velocity, means for delivering between said members a strip folded over open bag mouths, means for resiliently forcing said members together to press said strip against the bag mouths, means for adjusting the resilient forcing means, and means for overcoming said force and separating said members to release the pressure on said strip.

8. In a bag. closing machine, compressing means comprising a pair of adjacently located movable members, means for driving said members so thatadjacent surfaces move in the same direction at substantially the same velocity, means for delivering between said members a strip folded over open bag mouths, means for resiliently forcing said members together to press said strip against the bag mouths, means for ad'- justing the resilient forcing means, means for overcoming said force and separating said members to release the pressure on said strip, means for applying adhesive to said strip before it reaches said folding means, and tensioning means therefor.

LUTA L. CUNDALL, Administratria: of the Estate of Robert N.

Cundall, Deceased.

. LINCOLN A. CUNDALL.

'25 means comprising a pair of adjacently located 

